Electric switch



`June 5, 1928.

A. H. NERO ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. l5, 1926' IN VEN TOR.

HR Y: o H. NE R o BY -M// ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 5, 1928. i UNITED STATESV PATENT GFFICE.

ARVID H. NERO, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROW ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed February 15, 1926. Serial No. 88,310.

My invention relates to electric switches of this end are preferably rounded to reduce and particularly to a switch of the reciprofriction. Adjacent its opposite end the edge cating cam slide type. Theobject of my of the slide opposite that in which the cam invention is to provide a mechanism hav- 21 is formed, is recessed to form an open ing certain features of improvement over notch 23 adapted for engagement by the 6o that disclosed in my copending application bell crank arm 24 of an operating lever 25. Ser. No. 27,298, filed May 1', 1925. The latter is struck from sheet metal and the In the accompanying drawingsarm 24 is connected to the shank of the lever Fig. 1 isa vertical section on the line by,a U-bend 26. At the crest of the U-bend lo 1-.1, Fig. 2,l through an electric switch in are laterally extending lugs 27 which take 65 which my invention is embodied in one into recesses 28 and 29 on opposite sides form; of the guide slot 19. The lugs 27 are con- Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 Fig. 1; fined in these recesses by the cover disc 16, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism; so that the lever is freely pivoted and rocks and on the lugs 27 as trunnions, with the arm 24: 70

Fig. 4; is aperspective of the switch bar working in the guide slot 19. detached. On opposite sides of the guide slot 18 and ln the construction shown in my copendlying against the adjacent wall of the switch ing application above mentioned, the recipchamber 17 are the switch contacts 30 and 2o rocating cam slide of the switch mechanism 31. The contact 30 is integral with the wire 75 is struck from sheet metal, and they operatterminal 32, while the contact 31 is integral ing membe'i1 comprises a composite lever, with the center contact' 33 of the socket. the ingergrip portion of which is of insu- Straddling the cam slide 20 is a loatin lating material. The latter is of expen- Y-shaped `switch bar 34, the legs of whic sive construction, and is, moreover, out of span the contacts and 31 in circuit-closso harmony withv the fitting casing when the ing position. The switch bar is thrust latter is formed of metal. According to the against the cam 21 of the slide vby a coil present invention the operating lever is of spring seated in a well 36 opening to the A metal throughout, while the cam slide is bottom of the switch chamber. To reduce 3o formed -from insulating material, such as the frictional engagement between the 8:5 sheet ber'. -Various other` features of imswitch bar and the cam 21, and to take the provement in detail of construction will be wear between these parts, I provide a. saddle hereinafter referred to. piece 37 loosely resting on the crotch of While I have shown my invention emthe switch vbar and bearing against the cam 35 bodied in the switch mechanism for a lamp face of the slide. The curved bearing sur- 90 socket, it will` be recognized that it is appliface of the saddle reduces friction and m incable to variousother types of electrical it tains smooth the engaging face of the cam. tings, and is in no sense restricted to a lamp This is a feature of practical importance socket. In the form here shown the switch since the switch bar 34 is struck from sheet 40 comprises an insulating base block 15, and a metal, and the engagement of its edges with 95 cover disc 16 of insulating material, such as 'the face of the fiber cam 21 would otherwise fiber, or the like, which overlies one end of tend to roughen the surface of the latter and the block 15 and closes the switch chamber not only make the action ofthe switch more 17. Guideways 18 and 19 are formed in the diiiicult, but even endanger its proper operablock 15 transversely thereof,and the cam tion. Itr will be noted that the spring 357 mo slide 20 works therein across 'the switch thrusts the slide toward the cover disc 16.

chamber. ,y The wide end 22 of the'slideprevents sub.-

The yslide 20 is preferably Icut from sheet stantial displacement thereof by the spring. fiber or other insulating material, and one At its other end, the operating leverV limits edgefS Shaped llltelmedlt its-ends t0 OIm the displacement of the slide under the efv105 a peaked cam 21, which traverses the switch fort of the s ring, and the trunnions 27, chamber 17 on the reciprocation of the slide. or U-bend 26, ear against the cover disc 16. At one end-.22 theslide is of a width sub'- The slide has limited freedom of lay therestantially corresponding to the depth of the fore at this end, against the e ort of the guide channel 18; and the opposite margins spring, and moves toward and away from 11o the bottom of the guide slot 19 as the lever end swings through its'arc.

The operation of the switch is readily understood. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the circuit is closed by the switch bar 34, the legs of which engage the` fixed contacts 30 and 31. Upon depression of the free end of the lever the arm 24 thereof, which engages the notch 23 of the slide 20, shifts the latter across the switch'chamber 26. Inasmuch as the switch bar 34 is held against movement in the same direction by its engagment with the contacts and 31, the cam displaces the switch bar against the effort of the spring 35. l/Vhen the crest of the cam 21 passes the plane ofthe switch bar the stress of the spring causes the switch bar to ride the opposite incline of the cam and thus throw across the switch chamber 17 to opencircuit position. The operation of the mechanism isV reversed when the free end of the switch lever 25 is restored to its initial po-4 sition.

lhe parts ofthe mechanism are all readily struck from sheet material, and when used with a socket, as in the present instance, the entire mechanism, as well as the socket contacts are maintained in position by the two screws 38 and 39 which pass through the block 15 and take into the yoke.40 whichoverlies the base ange of the screw shell contact 41, and is itself integral with the wire terminal 42.

lVarious modications in detail will readily occur to 4those dealing witht the problem, without departing from what li claim as my invention.

il claim 1. lin an electric switch, an insulating body recessed to form a switch chamber, and a guideway opening therefrom, a cooperating insulating cover forming a wall of the guideway, a cam slide working in said guideway, and a switch bar acted 0n by the cam slide, in combination with a spring pressing the switch bar against the cam slide and urging said slide toward said cover, together with a pivoted operating lever engaging the slide `metal switch` bar, a saddle freely seated at the crotch of the 'switch bar, together with a slide having a peaked cam bearing against said saddle, the latter presenting a rounded face to the cam. e

4. ln an electric switch, a cam slide, and a switch bar acted on by the cam slide, in combinationiwith a pivoted lever for recip rocating the latter, and a spring pressing the switch bar against the cam slide and thrusting the slide toward the lever.

5. ln an electric switch, a cam slide having play in a direction normal to its length, a pivoted lever for reciprocating the slide, a switch bar riding the cam slide, and a spring urging the switch bar and slide to ward theoperating lever.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to his specilcation.

ARVllD lil. NERO. 

